LITTLE LOPFOOT

Evening Star, Issue 20137, 30 March 1929, Page 20

LITTLE LOPFOOT

A BED-TIKE TALE Mrs Lopfoot called all tlio children to her. There were six of thorn, and they came running and tumbling helter-skelter. Said she, looking very wise and important; “ Nol.ldy is to go near the cabbage held to-night.” The six squatted round her and made little squeals of disappointment. Each one in turn said: “ Uh, why?” “‘Only a little while ago,” she told them, ‘“1 came along by the hedge and 1 hoard voices, angry ones. 1 peeped through a hole and saw two men carrying huge sack's. Oh, dear! r lhcy gave me such a 1 right, i expect they were traps. We must keep away, children dears! The relations we have lost through those dreadlul traps!” “May not have been traps,” grunted one of the children. “ We shall be on the safe side,” said Mrs Lopfoot firmly, giving them all to understand that her word was law. “ What with ferrets and traps and Father Fox, it is a marvel there are so many of us. But now, my dears, come along! We must trust to aur luck and go in scarcf! of our supper lari her afield.” Off they went, scuttling me.-rdy through the wood, under bushes, through them, leaping over little paths, hiding under ferns, chasing each other, keeping as quiet as stones when they heard noiscr But nothing exciting for supper came their way ; just a few shoots and -,01110 tender dandelions but nothing so plen tiful as that beautiful held with fond to bo had for the taking.^ At this very moment Farmer Brown was walking through his garden gate, tired and glad to be home, 'talking to a friend, lie was saying:— “ (ken busy all the afternoon, wo have. It’s 'the finest fertiliser out. Kills all the worms and slugs and insects, and keeps those tiresome rabbits away. I’ve watched a rabbit after he’s been caught in it clean his paws on me grass like a human. Won’t lick them; don’t like the taste, you see.” And he laughed.

Soon it grew dark. By the time the rabbits had reached lire other side oi the wood a crescent moon laid popped out. They were very near tlio magic hole in the hedge which led to the cabbage field. “ bet’s lock,” whispered one of the Lopfoots, and they squeezed through tho hedge softly. There lay the field with all the young cabbages gleaming under tho yellow moon. They sighed. Nobody seemed to bo moving among the cabbages. Young Lop foot whispered back to his brother; “t don’t believe there’s a trap anywhere. Watch me. 111 just scoot quickly across, and you see, 1 11 letch you back something nice. ' And away he whisked. “Ah! all! ach!” If there is anything a good rabbit hates it is getting liis paws dirty and sticky. Ihe naugnty Lopfoot seemed to slip farther into the nasty, slithery stub _ at every step. And as ho trod on it sonic powdery tiling blew up in little clouds round him, nearly stilling him. Without even reaching "a cabbage be turned and rushed back. Whatever was that suffocating soft stub into which he slipped at every step!' All the Lopfoots and all the Bobtails, their neigh hours, .seemed to bo collected by this lime outside t.ic hole, anxiously wailing. Wonderful as cabbages were, it was more wonderful still u> he out oi that dark-looking mess. He just Hopped on tho cool grass and began to lick and wash liis paws. “Ah!” They ail rushed round. “Bitter! Horrible!” Up he got and began to clean Ins paws bv rubbing them on the grass. Mrs Bobtail sniffed. She had lived long and brought up many lambics. “Soot!” said she. “That’s what it is. Makes the cabbages grow. Makes us ill. Como along, Mrs iyopioot; wo must go and find another field. It is a lovclv night.” And when young Lopfoot had cleaned liis paws and had had a good scolding they went.